Manhattan Councilman Ben Kallos testifies at a hearing in September. photo by William Alatriste for the City Council

City Council Pushes Board of Standards and Appeals for More Transparency and Accountability

The City Council is trying to drag the Board of Standards and Appeals—the agency that decides zoning changes for many New York City developments—into the 21st century. The council’s Government Operations committee spent yesterday afternoon discussing bills that would force the agency to post zoning applications and decisions publicly, create a map of those decisions, and keep community boards and council members in the loop on applications.

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455 Onderdonk Avenue

Five-Story, 15-Unit Residential Building Filed at 455 Onderdonk Avenue, Ridgewood

Long Island-based Epoch Property LLC has filed applications for a five-story, 15-unit residential building at 455 Onderdonk Avenue, in Ridgewood. The project will measure 16,381 square feet and its residential units should average 671 square feet apiece, indicative of rental apartments. It will also include a nine-car garage on the ground floor, plus additional amenities. Chang Hwa Tan’s Flushing-based architecture firm is the architect of record. The 50-foot-wide, 5,183-square-foot assemblage consists of a two-story mixed-use building and a single-story warehouse. Demolition permits have not been filed.


24 Cedar Street

Four-Story, Eight-Unit Residential Building Planned at 24 Cedar Street, Bushwick

An anonymous Brooklyn-based LLC has filed applications for a four-story, eight-unit residential building at 24 Cedar Street, in western Bushwick. The project will measure 8,239 square feet and its residential units should average 730 square feet apiece, indicative of rental apartments. There will be two apartments on each floor, per the Schedule A. Woody Chen’s Elmhurst-based InFocus Design & Planning is the architect of record. The 25-foot-wide, 2,418-square-foot lot is occupied by a two-story house. Demolition permits have not been filed.


119-05 Linden Boulevard

Two-Story, 9,500-Square-Foot Commercial Building Coming to 119-05 Linden Boulevard, South Ozone Park

An anonymous Hempstead, N.Y.-based LLC has filed applications for a two-story, 9,483-square-foot commercial building at 119-05 Linden Boulevard, located at the corner of Lefferts Boulevard in South Ozone Park. The project will feature a laundromat on the ground floor, followed by medical offices on the second floor. There will also be 17 off-street parking spaces. Joseph Deal’s Long Island-based Bohler Engineering is the applicant of record. The 10,004-square-foot corner site is currently vacant.


417 East 135th Street

Reveal for Seven-Story, 22-Unit Condo Project at 417 East 135th Street, Mott Haven

A rendering has been revealed of the seven-story, 22-unit residential project under development at 417 East 135th Street, in the South Bronx’s Mott Haven section. The latest building permits indicate the new building will encompass 20,022 square feet and rise 70 feet above street level, not including bulkhead elements. The residential units, averaging 681 square feet apiece, will be condominiums, Welcome2TheBronx reported. There will also be off-street parking for 11 cars. The property owner does business as the Brooklyn-based Sobro LLC. Brooklyn-based Frankl C Mallea Y Stern Associates Architects & Engineers (a.k.a. J Frankl Associate, or JFA) is responsible for the design. The site is currently vacant. A construction timeline has not been disclosed.